Sunday, December 20, 2009

As I took a quick walk through the Huntington Gardens last Saturday afternoon I suddenly noticed that most of the beautiful statues that embellish the many mini-gardens and paths and doorways are interestingly clad. They tend to be in the nude, but accessorized. I started thinking of the times when I put on my socks first before other items and how I'd quickly rush to dress as if someone was going to see me that way. Au contraire, these statues don't mind this look at all.

They strut about, pose, stand around in the nude, but they do carry accessories. So I stopped at the gift shop and picked up a couple of accessories!

Earlier that same day, I was busy cleaning and organizing, a lot has to be done before the arrival of kitties' grandparents. The cat boys found my doing housework interesting, and so they watched while resting.

I kept thinking to myself how handy it would be if I could watch and nap at the same time!

And yet earlier in the morning, I went to the early morning farmer's market where I found this citron.This citron has no juice, it is all zest. I had never seen one before.

And yet even earlier, 5:30 a.m. or thereabouts, I went out with these doodles.Doodle #1= OllieDoodle #2 = AugustusThe day came to an end with the going-away party for the friend who was moving to Pointe Noire, Congo: She is dressed in the traditional Congo attire! Bon Voyage et Adieu! And two nights before she left we talked about this:

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

Wishing all a beautiful week, many accessories, a clean heart and cat kisses as needed...

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Es muy temprano, it is very early...5:30 a.m., and little Ollie straddling the sofa is wondering when his keeper is going to take him out for a walk!Es 7:30 a.m., and little Gustopher Jones is wondering if we are going to go out again?!!!My lovely early morning companions have a lot of ideas in their little heads. They so wish they could go to work so mommie cat told them about her last night's excursions (especially since there was no Sylvester at home).

She first walked over to her good friend who is going to Congo in 2 days, together they walked to a talk on 'Making the World Beautiful" delivered by another friend from Ethiopia who is studying International Policy, Planning and Development at USC. The speaker expressed her feelings of despair at the immensity of world problems. She then listed the case studies she had examined and mentioned that in all those cases adversity was turned around into a situation far better than expected through efforts of a handful of people who did not give up. In all instances women played a very significant role in the betterment of the world. She quoted the following passage, which gave her hope that one cannot give up in face of adversities.

In this world we are influenced by two sentiments, Joy and Pain. Joy gives us wings! In times of joy our strength is more vital, our intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded. We seem better able to cope with the world and to find our sphere of usefulness. But when sadness visits us we become weak, our strength leaves us, our comprehension is dim and our intelligence veiled. The actualities of life seem to elude our grasp,the eyes of our spirits fail to discover the sacred mysteries, and we become even as dead beings.(AbdulBaha)

She saw in those adversities "sacred mysteries".

Thereafter, the precious boy cats volunteered to help wherever they could and I assured them that some day they would. : )

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

This is how somedays are, untitled! Last evening as I came home I caught a glimpse of this red sky. I dropped everything to grab my handy dandy iphone and took this photo. I love skies!This early morning I was on cat duty, walking up and down the street with the cats for one moment, and alone, the other when I suddenly caught glimpse of our street. No people, quiet, nice I thought.As I was going back in to come up with a new set of plans for capturing the rascal kitties I saw this jet slice the blue sky above my head...Aahhh I thought!Well, dos rascales gatos were eventually caught but they refused to pose for photos. I told them that last nights photos would have to do then, and so I present:

Augustus the Magnificent sitting on two catnip mousies and a catnip sachet......he gives me the 'uninterpretable look', ??!!??Ollie, or Mr PuffyPants thinks he should have the catnip mousies but it is a 'no-go' situaton,which does not bother him for too longbecause he can straddle the sofa cushion and close his eyes!Cat mommie watched "La Moustache" while Sylvester (aka cat dad) worked on building a civilization (a computer game)! And the boys and I read this before going to bed...O son of man! If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee and cleave unto that which will profit mankind. And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself. Humility exalteth man to the heaven of glory and power, whilst pride abaseth him to the depths of wretchedness and degradation.(Verset: 6.47 Les Tablettes de Bahá'u'lláh)

Wishing all a Wednesday embellished with a beautiful title and of course the usual serving of cat kisses...

Monday, December 14, 2009

meant a little bit of repose for the kitty parents. Don't get me wrong, furry boys still ran out, they could not believe their eyes ... they thought that we had moved the bathroom showers outside, and were a bit angry with me at first. In and out, in and out, they ran with their wet little paws!Kitty mom took advantage of this downpour...drove outto a mall to meet up a friend and do some shopping.Clearing skies the next day...all fresh air and fresh colors...real beauty showing its face here and there:a fallen branch of palmgolden ginkoorangeish leaves on the treeand down below in the pool of waterand in the surrounding grass skirt.Assorted berries, orangeand purpleand fuschiaand red!Lemons, o lemons,red leaves,and an orange Ollie by his salad bowl!Gussy checking out the street,and finally dos rascals ready to resume their daily routine!Having examined so many leaves and branches in my early morning walk I felt the cat boys would benefit from a reading that spoke to nature and its various forms since they too would be going on their own field trips soon....Furthermore, the forms and organisms of phenomenal being and existence in each of the kingdoms of the universe are myriad and numberless. The vegetable plane or kingdom, for instance, has its infinite variety of types and material structures of plant life -- each distinct and different within itself, no two exactly alike in composition and detail -- for there are no repetitions in nature, and the augmentative virtue cannot be confined to any given image or shape. Each leaf has its own particular identity -- so to speak, its own individuality as a leaf. Therefore, each atom of the innumerable elemental atoms, during its ceaseless motion through the kingdoms of existence as a constituent of organic composition, not only becomes imbued with the powers and virtues of the kingdoms it traverses but also reflects the attributes and qualities of the forms and organisms of those kingdoms.As each of these forms has its individual and particular virtue, therefore, each elemental atom of the universe has the opportunity of expressing an infinite variety of those individual virtues. No atom is bereft or deprived of this opportunity or right of expression. Nor can it be said of any given atom that it is denied equal opportunities with other atoms; nay, all are privileged to possess the virtues existent in these kingdoms and to reflect the attributes of their organisms.In the various transformations or passages from kingdom to kingdom the virtues expressed by the atoms in each degree are peculiar to that degree. For example, in the world of the mineral the atom does not express the vegetable form and organism, and when through the process of transmutation it assumes the virtues of the vegetable degree, it does not reflect the attributes of animal organisms, and so on.It is evident, then, that each elemental atom of the universe is possessed of a capacity to express all the virtues of the universe...

Friday, December 11, 2009

I was telling Ollie last night about this celebration at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium (which happens to be right next to where we live.) As soon as he heard that the event was focused on International Human Rights, and more specifically on Women's Rights he was anxious to get up and go.(Ollie departing already)As I was getting ready I said, "Babe, you know that kitties in a crowd of grown ups get lost so you need to stand guard in the courtyard."Hating to leave him out and alone, I tried not to think about the pussy cats and walked up to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium,right across from the open air El Paseo Colorado and took an iphone photo of thisI am glad that I attended the meeting. Living in a large city one often finds oneself overwhelmed by all the troubles around and helpless to be able to make a difference. I firmly believe that the only solution, both to the situation and to maintaining one's mental composure, is to become involved in easing and solving the problems at whatever level possible. We are a part of our environment and undoubtedly are affected by it.

Anyhow last night, the wonderful Mayor of Pasadena, Bill Bogart, quoted Eleanor Roosevelt as to why a small city like Pasadena should care about international human rights, and tonight about worldwide women's rights.

Where after all do universal human rights begin? In small places, closes to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person: The neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.

Remarks at the United Nations, March 27, 1958

Next, an educational short film prepared by the Nike Foundation was shown. It is called "I Dare You", The most powerful force of change on the planet is a girl. Although I firmly believe that the education of girls is of greater consequence compared with that of boys, I was not aware of the supporting statistical evidence.

Another educational theme for me was self-defense and girls. The keynote speaker, Ellen Snortland (Norwegian last name), author of "Beauty Bites Beast", spoke about her approach to stopping violence, be it at home or on the playground. She discussed how empowerment of girls, specifically, by teaching them how to protect themselves, has far reaching consequences in their future, and suggested that this type of education should be viewed as normal as getting educated on wearing a seatbelt, for example. When she first started talking I was not sure how much I agreed with her but after listening to her I thought, yes, she makes very good points, and not just for families with domestic problems, for everyone. So I bought a couple of copies of her book, one for MOI and one to give to a certain friend who teaches at Mesa College in AZ.

There was a lot more, music, song, poetry, viewing of art work, socializing, getting to know who does what and why, too much to write here in this blog.

As luck would have it, upon my return home, the doodle boys immediately followed me into the house and I said Hallelujah in my heart.

Upstairs in the bedroom, Ollie wrestled his little mouse, and I felt pretty normal for a city-dweller : ), maybe even inspired again!

Wishing all inspiration and empowerment, and cat kisses from the mouse-wrestlers....